Tropical Storm Harvey formed on August 17th, 2017 in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Lesser Antilles before weakening and running into Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. The system was downgraded to a tropical wave, but its remnants reorganized Wednesday into a tropical depression.
Harvey is the eighth named storm in the 2017 Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
Rainfall potential increases as Harvey moves northeast. Some forecast models show Harvey re-emerging briefly in the Gulf of Mexico, though there is still uncertainty about the storm’s path after landfall. An additional 3-4 inches forecast for the New Orleans area, with localized bands dumping as much as 8 inches possible.
Texas will bear the brunt of the rainfall. Parts of the Texas coast are forecast to get between 12 and 20 inches of rain. Houston is already showing lots of that. Isolated amounts could be as high as 30 inches. Forecasters are warning of “life-threatening flooding” as the wet weather hovers over the area.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds increased Thursday afternoon to 80 miles per hour with higher gusts recorded. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting “rapid strengthening” as the storm continues its path.
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